Homogeneous catalytic hydrodechlorination of chlorocarbons

Abstract

This invention relates to a liquid phase process for the preparation of R f CHCl 2 by the selective homogeneous catalytic hydrodechlorination of R f CCl 3 wherein R f is F, CF 3 , (CF 2 ) n Cl or (CF 2 ) n CF 3 by reacting the compound with hydrogen while in solution with a Periodic Table Group 8-10 metal complex catalyst which contains tertiary Periodic Table Group 15 ligands, without added base.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid phase process for the preparation of R f  CHCl 2  by the selective homogeneous catalytic hydrodechlorination of a compound having the formula R f  CCl 3  wherein R f  is F, CF 3 , (CF 2 ) n  Cl or (CF 2 ) n  CF 3 , and n is 1-4 which comprises reacting the compound with hydrogen while in solution with a Periodic Table Group 8-10 metal complex hydrodechlorination catalyst without added base, to form R f  CHCl 2 , wherein the Group 8-10 metal is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd or Pt, with a tertiary Periodic Table Group 15 ligand selected from the group consisting of phosphine, arsine, stibine, and bismuthine. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the temperature is about 25° to about 100° C. and the pressure is about 50 to about 500 psi. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the temperature is about 85°-90° C. and the pressure is about psi. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 3 wherein R f  is selected from F, CF 3 , CF 2  Cl, and (CF 2 ) 4  Cl. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 4 wherein R f  is CF 3 . 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the catalyst is selected from Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, and Pt with phosphine ligands. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the catalyst is a Rh phosphine complex. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 7 further comprising a solvent selected from benzene, toluene, ether, THF and DME. 
     
     
       9. A liquid phase process for the selective homogeneous catalytic hydrodechlorination of CF 3  CCl 3   which comprises reacting CF 3  CCl 3  with H 2  while in a benzene solution with a RhCl(PPh 3 ) 3  catalyst at a temperature of 85° C., at a constant pressure of 100 psi to form CF 3  CHCl 2 .